New York, U.S.A. – Global Travel Publishers announces the launch of Mark Nolting’s 8th edition of Africa’s Top Wildlife Countries. Available in July through Amazon, Barnes & Noble and others, the new edition of the book will explore and chronicle the essentials of embarking on safari inAfrica. The compendium will feature the most up-to-date information and maps of the continent and wildlife with the same depth and comprehensiveness of past books in the series.

Africa’s Top Wildlife Countries 8th edition will feature detailed information including how to choose a safari, as well as a guide for seeing wildlife in specific areas. There are seven charts, covering everything from expected temperatures to best wildlife viewing destinations. With detailed maps and photographs of animals and lodges, readers will be able to gain thorough knowledge of Africa.

As a consummate explorer and researcher, Mark Nolting’s expertise is the result of over 25 years of adventuring and study. In addition to the Africa’s Top Wildlife Countries series, Mark previously authored the comprehensive African Safari Journal. Mark joined his wife, Alison Nolting, 19 years ago to head the Africa Adventure Company. Born and raised in Zimbabwe, Alison managed safari camps before joining Mark to lead their team of experienced Africa consultants.

Mark Nolting is also the founder of the award-winning Africa Adventure Company, which will celebrate its 26th anniversary as a top Africa specialist this year. Africa Adventure Company’s first-hand knowledge ofAfrica and wildlife permits them to offer highly personalized trip planning and advice. Well-known for delivering expert safari guidance, Africa Adventure Company presents the 8th edition of Africa’s Top Wildlife Countries to share with all Mark Nolting’s vast knowledge and enthusiasm for African wildlife.

About Africa Adventure Company

The Africa Adventure Company is an award-winning travel outfitter and leading Africa specialist known for its extensive portfolio of more than 75 safari trips to over 14 African countries. They pride themselves on planning personalized safaris of a lifetime with a commitment to sustainable tourism and eco conservation, while promoting camps that are symbiotic with nature and the community and offering exquisite game viewing with top notch guides. For more information about Africa Adventure Company, visit their website at www.AfricanAdventure.com.

The article New Edition of Africa’s Top Wildlife Countries Available appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

A recent controversy has erupted over plans to transform one of Singapore’s historic cemeteries, Bukit Brown cemetery, into a residential district. The plans begin with construction of a new dual four-lane road through the site, announced by Land Transport Authority (LTA) Singapore on September 12^th 2011.

The announcement was met with a wave of protests from conservationists and cultural heritage advocates, who believe that the decision would lead to an irrevocable loss of historic value and natural wildlife.

Located in the North-East of Singapore, the Bukit Brown cemetery is one of few remaining lush green vegetation areas in the country. Affectionately known to the local community as Coffee Hill, Bukit Brown cemetery (“bukit” meaning hill in Malay) was a Chinese public cemetery established in the early 20^th century, named after its former owner George Henry Brown who arrived in Singapore in the 1840s.

After acquiring the site in 1919, municipals opened a cemetery for local Chinese communities. Cultural heritage is a topic close to many hearts. In land-scarce Singapore, which has embraced a relentless drive to develop and modernise, little has stood in the way of development.

Prioritising land use for infrastructure development has meant that many historical landmarks, such as the colonial-styled National Library, have been demolished. Singapore’s hard-nosed decisions to implement urban and economic imperatives over preservationist impulses have always been a thorny issue with locals, who feel that it is eroding the country’s identity.

According to Wall Street Journal Southeast Asia, Singapore Heritage Society spokesman Terence Chong said, “Bukit Brown serves as a potent reminder that our nation arose not only on the backs of the rich, but on the faceless ghosts of our collective familial past, thus enriching the tapestry of the Singapore story.”

A resting place for many prominent early migrants, the cemetery resonates with much of Singapore’s early history. Lee Hoon Leong, grandfather of Singapore’s first prime minister and founding father, Lee Kuan Yew, was among those interred at the cemetery. In an attempt to assuage public outcries, LTA has reiterated that the road will only affect 5% of the 100, 000 graves in the 0.86km² cemetery.

This is not the first time that the Bukit Brown cemetery has faced threats of being cleared for redevelopment. In the 1970s, the site was granted reprieve. Now, however, its fate has been sealed: Singapore authorities have confirmed that the development of the future estate in Bukit Brown will take place in 30 to 40 years’ time.

In the interim, the dual road will be constructed to ease traffic during peak periods. Traffic along one of the adjacent roads to Bukit Brown is predicted to increase between 20% to 30% by 2020. Currently, peak periods see 6,000 to 7, 000 vehicles travelling on these roads.

What was surprising, noted Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) Singapore deputy director, Zulkiflee Mohd Zaki, was that no one came forward to object the Bukit Brown Concept Plans and Master Plans for redevelopment that were displayed for feedback in 2001 and 2008 respectively, reported the Straits Times.

The furore only begun after LTA confirmed that construction plans for the new road will begin in 2013. As Singapore’s population continues to expand rapidly due to a growing number of expatriates and foreigners relocating to the country, the government’s decisions toward prioritising land use will come under greater scrutiny.

The dilemma remains: to fulfil short term practical needs or to cultivate a long term sense of belonging for a country with little historic sentiment?

The article Singapore’s Historic Resting Place Stirs Unrest appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.